The
Cuckmere River flows through the chalk landscape
of the South Downs of East Sussex from the north of
Heathfield to Exceat on the East Sussex coast. The near Ox-bow lake, is a classic example of the type and the
familiar scene is a favorite with walkers and geography
teachers.

At
its estuary it meanders several times through the
Cuckmere Valley Nature Reserve, reaching the sea at
Cuckmere Haven between the chalk cliffs of Seaford Head
and the famous Seven
Sisters. For as long as I can
remember children have used the location to learn to
paddle canoes. I was one of them.

Nelson
Kruschandl -

My first canoe trip was on the Cuckmere

The
course of the river was historically diverted to allow
improved irrigation for agriculture in the area. The
beautiful meanders of the Cuckmere river that this
created, are known internationally and has become a major
tourist attraction. At the north end of the valley,
adjacent to Exceat Bridge, is the popular Golden Galleon Public
House.

A
collaboration of the Environment
Agency, DEFRA and
various other environmental and conservation groups
plans to stop protecting the area from flooding.
Presently, an artificial pebble blockade prevents
seawater penetrating the uppermost areas of the Cuckmere
Valley. However, with sea level rise and increasing
costs of repairs, together with growing evidence that
the area would be more ecologically rich, if allowed to
return to its natural state; the Environment Agency in
collaboration with English Nature plan to stop the
repair of this blockade, which will result in the
eventual flooding of this highly popular area.

The
agencies involved estimate that the benefit in terms of
ecological expansion, will in the long term, act to
improve tourism. Unfortunately, I can see no evidence of
this from any government department, to support the
change from exquisite river scene, to mud-flats.
What is worse, is that if the agencies get their way,
the changes will be irreversible. Gone forever that
lovely river. This was first proposed in 2003.

Cuckmere
Valley

RECENT
DEVELOPMENTS 2006

It
appears the Environment Agency is still working with English
Nature to create wetland habitats for wildlife, while
ignoring other economic and environmental issues.
In other areas EA have been pumping water to flood
areas now drier than normal due to climate change.
In my opinion this is laudable provided only the
situation is temporary - perhaps to alleviate some short
term man made condition, such as a diversion.

Unfortunately,
that is not the case here. Climate change is
likely to escalate the problem and if unchecked could
cause the extinction of many wetland species in the UK.
Climate change is of course long term and with our
present apathetic approach to curbing greenhouse gases -
unstoppable. The very act of pumping water, uses
energy which of course creates more carbon dioxide gas.

Locals
want to preserve the attraction for many good
reasons. However, we have here a delicate
situation where both arguments should be weighed
up. We should not forget that vast tracts of land
in Holland are reclaimed from the sea, upon which the
Dutch rely for farming, factories and accommodation.

Norman Baker
and Nigel Waterson

The
Environment Agency (EA) claims that global warming and
rise in sea levels means that the existing regime in the
Cuckmere is no longer ‘sustainable’. There is
however, no evidence of this.

Local
opinion is that there should be no hurry to address sea
level rise in the Draconian and destructive way EA
propose. A planning applications was made to raise
the river banks by only 300 mm - one foot - to give
roughly 50
years for mature thought as to the long term
‘geological time’ solution. The proposer of this
latest scheme, Nigel Newton, suggest this will
allow a more informed decision to be made, where,
experts will know more about global warming and
geostatic tilt. The decision will then be more informed.
You must admit this seems logical. In fact the
application was passed first by Wealden District
Council, then a few weeks later by Lewes District
Council unanimously (July 06).

Local
MPs Nigel Waterson and Norman Baker (pictured above)
recognised the future of this special landscape was of
considerable concern to people across Sussex
and beyond, which arguments ought to be tested, to look
at the technical arguments for and against such
proposals. We agree wholeheartedly that this is a
sensible course of action and await the outcome,
if any, should the application receive further
attention. We're sure the locals would like to
thank their MPs for taking an active interest in the
discourse.

The
locals argue there are many more factors to consider and
they are ignored at the Agency’s peril – local
opinion, tourist economy, erosion, human rights and
other legal issues, to include proper
use of public finance, etc. They
want a number of questions to be put to EA by all
interested parties particularly the involved Councils:
Wealden District Council and Lewes District Council. The
wisdom of this project at this juncture with the limited
information available and upon which far reaching and
most probably damaging decisions as proposed be EA and
EN, could be made, should
be questioned. Not least of the concerns raised; is this
project is a good use of public money.

There
are a host of other matters to be considered such as
rights of way and of course Human
Rights. So, it could
be human rights versus animal rights. Of course
the animals on the land are presumably happy, or they
wouldn't be there. Humans have somewhat less of a
choice, when it comes to nesting.

Undoubtedly,
the local MPs and Councillors will become involved, to
include (in alphabetical order): Norman
Baker, Nigel Waterson and the local member Brian
West. If you have any views on this subject, we
would like to hear from you.

Global
warming and climate change are hot political
topics. With so much evidence all around us all
pointing to the same thing, it's hard to ignore the
issue. The latest personality to come out of the
'global warming' closet, as of 24 May 2006, is David
Attenborough.

THE
CONTROVERSIAL scheme to flood the Cuckmere Valley WILL
need planning permission

Following
a storm of public protests, the Environment Agency has
announced it will put a planning application before the
district council. The row over turning the beauty spot
into mudflats has been running for many months.

Agency bosses say the Cuckmere Estuary Restoration
Project is needed to secure its long-term future. But
critics say the plans to remove the flood defences willl
ruin the area and destroy the tourist trade. On Tuesday
(April 15), opponents of the scheme met with councillors
to lobby for a full public inquiry. They threatened to
take legal action if, as they fear, work starts in
October.

Millionaire publisher Nigel Newton, owner of one of the
Coastguard Cottages at the Cuckmere Haven, called on the
council to refuse permission. He said, 'The Cuckmere
Valley is one of the most beautiful places, not just in
Sussex, but anywhere on the earth. Let's make sure we
all contribute as individuals to saving this spectacular
creation of God and man.' Mr Newton said he has
independently commissioned a study by maritime engineers
Royal Haskoning, which designed the Hong Kong
underground system. In their report, the engineers say
the removal of the shingle beach defences will result in
the destruction of the coastguard cottages. It will also
not bring about the environmental benefits suggested by
the Environmental Agency (EA), they claim.

Mr Newton, who runs Bloomsbury, the publishing house
behind the Harry Potter books, says the proposed scheme
is all about saving money. He said, 'The real reason for
this scheme is to save £30,000 per year, which is how
much they pay to build the beach defences each year.
They talk about £2 million being needed to restore the
river banks but that is ridiculous. 'There is no need to
build miles and miles of river bank, they simply need to
fix parts of it. And considering the EA has a budget of
£500 million, £30,000 per year should not be a
problem.'

EA bosses insists that breaking the banks on one side of
the river will protect the valley against future
flooding and preserve the Cuckmere's famous meanders.
Peter Midgley, Sussex area manager, said, 'The existing
defences are wearing out and sooner or later the sea
will come in. Rather than topping up these defences and
turning the canal banks into a building site, our
proposals show how we can work with nature to protect
the whole valley from flooding and improve the
environment.

'We have looked at all the options and think that this
managed approach will be the best way to keep this as
one of the south's most treasured beauty spots.' The EA
hopes to start work in the autumn. But Alan Edgar, chief
brewer at the Golden Galleon, warned that opponents of
the scheme are considering taking out an injunction to
stop this from happening.

He said, 'The public footpaths are sacrosanct. Even if
one objection is received it is mandatory that there
will be a public inquiry.' Mr Edgar said the plans would
infringe the human rights of the residents of the
Coastguard Cottages. He believes they have the right to
access to their properties. If planning permission is
granted by Lewes District Council, the matter should be
decided by the Secretary of State on appeal. The
planning application is due to be submitted in
June.